Really disappointed with the temperature of the coffee, I can’t normally drink hot drinks straight away, but this machine does not make hot coffee. If you want to site and relax over a long drink this machine is not for you. Do a search outside AO and you will see lots of comments on this and confusing info re the hot plate re 4 cups! Yes the machine looks great, but negatives, cable is short, filling with water is not that easy, the water level on the side is difficult to see. Some basics not designed out, too much focus on looking good rather than providing hot coffee. Returned unit for refund. Just as well AO priced matched, it’s really not worth the list price.

This looks lovely and makes good coffee but for such an expensive machine it's very poorly designed. The lid only opens to a 90 angle and the carafe sides are straight not curved like most filter coffee machines. The combination of the two means it's impossible to completely empty the carafe into the machine. You need to overfill the jug and throw the last fluid ounce or two away. Clearly that's not an onerous task but it seems like a gratuitous waste of water. I thought by buying Smeg I'd be getting top of the range design to match the top of the range price but this seems like they've put form over function.

Good looking unit, bit fiddly at first to set up (was the switch faulty)? Keeps coffee hot, warming ring seems to be on whether you want it to or not. Tricky to fill from flask.

I received this coffee machine today, and there was a little chip in the paint and the chrome was discoloured. Mohammed from AO customer service was fantastic, but I am less than impressed with the SMEG appliance. It seems to work well...but for £169 it should be pretty top of the line.

Love this product, easy to use but quite large, hard to fill when under kitchen units

Machine is great; only downside, it’s a shame that the keep warm function can’t be used if running the machine half capacity

I love Smeg products - the retro 1950s look is a big part of their appeal for me and they perform and are built to an amazingly high standard. Now why the 4 star do you ask? Well when you fill the jug it is actually impossible to get that last little drip of water out of the big and into the tank. It’s a dilemma. Do I leave a tiny bit of cold water in the jug? Can I flick it into the tank somehow? Or do I walk over to the sink and pour it away (go water the plants with it)? God damn you Smeg! You had one job! That minor quibble aside - it’s a great product.

Great machine. Simple to use as you would expect from smeg. Doesn't feel as sturdy as I would have expected it too and the face that the wire is not black to match the machine really annoys me. But the coffee tastes great and it looks cool on the counter!